Handheld Controller for a Motorized Wheel

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling the operation of a motorized wheel including a controller configured to control the operation of a motor for driving the motorized wheel, and a handheld device configured to receive inputs associated with the operation of the motor and to transmit instructions corresponding to the received inputs to the controller to control the operation of the motor via a wireless communication medium. The handheld device includes a main portion having a handgrip and a tail portion being biased toward the main portion to form an attachment mechanism by the main portion in cooperation with the tail portion, the attachment mechanism for attaching to a remote surface. The handheld device including a display for displaying information associated with the operation of the motorized wheel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/127,787, filed on Mar. 3, 2015 and titled“Handheld Controller for a Motorized Wheel,” the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to a handheld controller fora motorized wheel.

BACKGROUND

Motorized wheels can be used in a variety of devices. Typically motorsare controlled through inputs received from input devices, such aslevers, switches, and buttons that are electronically connected to themotor. Typically these connections are direct, such that electricalwires connect the input devices to the electric motor.

Motorized wheels can be found on scooters, bicycles, poweredskateboards, and/or other devices adapted for transportation purposes.

Transportation devices that have been traditionally designed to bepropelled under human power can not be configured to allow control of amotor through the use of direct connections between input devices andthe motor. For example, skateboards are typically stood upon by the userwith propelling force required to move the skateboard usually comingfrom the rider having one foot on the deck of the skateboard and anotherpushing off from the ground.

Summary In one aspect, a controller for a motorized wheel is described.The controller can include a housing. The housing can be configured tobe held in the hand of an operator of the motorized wheel. Thecontroller can include an input device. The input device can be disposedon the housing. The input device can be configured to receive inputsfrom the user. The inputs can be associated with the operation of themotorized wheel.

The controller can include a transmitter. The transmitter can beconfigured to transmit instructions from the handheld controller to themotorized wheel. The instructions can include operation informationassociated with the inputs received at the input device.

The housing can include a main portion. The main portion can have ahandgrip between a first end and a second end. The housing can include atail portion. The tail portion can have a first end attached to thefirst end of the main portion and a second end directed substantiallytoward the second end of the main portion. The tail portion can bebiased toward the main portion to form an attachment mechanism by themain portion in cooperation with the tail portion. The attachmentmechanism can be configured to attach the housing to a remote surface.The remote surface can be a deck of a powered skateboard.

The attachment mechanism of the handheld device can include asubstantially ovular inner surface formed by the main portion and thetail portion. The attachment mechanism can include a gap between thesecond end of the main portion and the second end of the tail portion.The gap between the second end of the main portion and the second end ofthe tail portion can be configured to receive a support such that thehandheld device is supported by the support.

The input device can include one or more of a button, a slider, a wheel,a sensor, a touchscreen, a gesture sensing device, or the like.

The controller can include a receiver. The receiver can be configured toreceive information associated with the operation of the motorizedwheel. The received information can be associated with a charge level ofa battery used to power the motorized wheel. The receiver can be aBluetooth receiver.

The housing can include a display unit. The display unit can beconfigured to display information associated with the operation of themotorized wheel. The information can be received from a mobile computingdevice. The display unit can be configured to display the informationreceived from the mobile computing device.

The information received from the mobile computing device can benavigation information. The display device can be configured to presentnavigation information to the user.

The controller can include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)signal receiver disposed within the housing. The GNSS signal receivercan be configured to receive geolocation signals from at least one GNSSsatellite. The controller can include a computer processor. The computerprocessor can be configured to perform one or more operations. The oneor more operations can include receiving geographic destinationinformation from a mobile computing device. The operations can includedetermining a current location based on the received geolocationsignals. The operations can include determining a route based on anelectronic map from the current location to the geographic destination.Presentation, on the display device, of route information to the usercan be facilitated. The route information can be associated with thedetermined route.

In one aspect, a method of controlling a motorized wheel is described.The method can include receiving, at an input device of a handheldcontroller, from a user of a motorized wheel, instructions associatedwith the operation of the motorized wheel. The operations can includetransmitting, from the handheld controller to the motorized wheel,operation information associated with the inputs received from the userof the motorized wheel.

Information associated with a charge level of a battery used to powerthe motorized wheel can be received through a receiver at the handheldcontroller.

A graphical representation of the charge level the battery can bedisplayed through a display device at the handheld controller.

Navigation signals can be received from a mobile computing device. Thenavigation signals can include navigation information. A graphicalrepresentation of the navigation information can be presented to theuser through the display.

In another aspect, a system for controlling the operation of a motorizedwheel is described. The system can comprise a controller. The controllercan be in electrical connection with a motor. The controller can beconfigured to control the operation of the motor. The controller can beconfigured to control the speed at which the motor rotates. Thecontroller can be configured to control the rate at which the motoraccelerates and decelerates.

The system can comprise a handheld device. The handheld device can hostthe controller. The handheld device can be configured to receive inputsassociated with the operation of the motor. The handheld device can beconfigured to transmit instructions corresponding to the received inputsto the controller to control the operation of the motor. The handhelddevice can be configured to transmit instruction via a wirelesscommunication medium.

The handheld device can comprise a main portion having a first end and asecond end. The handheld device can comprise a handgrip between thefirst end and the second end. The handheld device can comprise a tailportion having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tailportion can be attached to a first end of the handgrip portion. Thesecond end of the tail portion can be directed substantially toward thesecond end of the main portion. The tail portion can be biased towardthe main portion. The bias of the tail portion can be configured to forman attachment mechanism by the main portion in cooperation with the tailportion. The attachment mechanism can be adapted for attaching to aremote surface.

The attachment mechanism of the handheld device can have a substantiallyovular inner surface. The handheld device can include a gap between thesecond end of the main portion and the second end of the tail portion.The gap between the second end of the main portion and the second end ofthe tail portion can be configured to receive a support. For example,the gap between the second end of the main portion and the second end ofthe tail portion can be configured to receive an edge of a skateboarddeck, a pocket, a bag strap, a truck portion of a skateboard, and/orother support. The handheld device can be supported by the support.

The handheld device can comprise one or more input devices. The one ormore input devices can be configured to receive inputs from a user ofthe handheld device. The handheld device can comprise a transmitter. Thetransmitter can be a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter canbe configured to transmit radio frequency signals. The transmitter canbe configured to transmit instructions to the controller for controllingthe motorized wheel. The transmitted instructions can correspond to theinputs received through the input devices of the handheld device. Eachof the one or more input devices can include one or more of a button, aslider, a wheel, a sensor, and/or other input devices.

The handheld device can include a receiver. The receiver can be awireless receiver. The wireless receiver can be configured to receiveradio-frequency signals. The radio-frequency signals can be Bluetoothsignals. The receiver can be configured to receive informationassociated with the operation of the motorized wheel from the controlunit for the motorized wheel. For example, where the motor for themotorized wheel is an electrical motor, the received information can beassociated with a charge level of a battery used to power the electricmotor. The handheld device can include a display unit. The display unitcan be configured to display information associated with the operationof the motorized wheel. The display unit can be configured to display acharge level of the battery used to provide power to the electric motorof the motorized wheel.

The handheld device can include a transceiver configured to communicatewith external devices. The transceiver can be configured to transmitand/or receive radio-frequency signals. The transceiver can beconfigured to transmit and/or receive Bluetooth signals.

The details of one or more variations of the subject matter describedherein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the descriptionbelow. Other features and advantages of the subject matter describedherein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from theclaims. While certain features of the currently disclosed subject matterare described for illustrative purposes, it should be readily understoodthat such features are not intended to be limiting. The claims thatfollow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protectedsubject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matterdisclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain someof the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In thedrawings,

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a handheld device having one ormore features consistent with implementations of the current subjectmatter;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a handheld device in use by a userhaving one or more features consistent with implementations of thecurrent subject matter;

FIG. 3 is a top-down view of an exemplary embodiment of a handhelddevice having one or more features consistent with implementations ofthe current subject matter;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a handheld device being storedhaving one or more features consistent with implementations of thecurrent subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system forcontrolling an electric motor having one or more features consistentwith implementations of the current subject matter;

FIG. 6a is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of ahandheld device in use by a user having one or more features consistentwith implementations of the currency subject matter;

FIGS. 6b-6c are exemplary embodiments of the handheld device having oneor more features consistent with implementations of the current subjectmatter;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a controller in the form of a glove forcontrolling a motorized wheel having one or more features consistentwith the current subject matter; and,

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a process for controlling a motorized wheelhaving one or more features consistent with the current subject matter.

When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures,features, or elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handheld device 100 having oneor more features consistent with implementations of the current subjectmatter. The handheld device 100 can be configured to facilitate controlof a motor. In some variations, the handheld device 100 can beconfigured to communicate with a controller. The controller can be inelectrical communication with the motor. The controller can beconfigured to control the motor. In some variations, the handheld device100 can host the controller. The handheld device 100, hosting thecontroller, can be configured to communicate with the motor to controlthe motor. The controller, whether hosted with the motor or hosted inthe handheld device can be configured to control the speed at which themotor rotates. The controller can be configured to control the rate atwhich the motor accelerates and decelerates.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the handheld device 100 can comprise amain portion 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106. Thehandheld device 100 can comprise a handgrip 108 between the first end104 and the second end 106. The handheld device 100 can comprise a tailportion 108 having a first end 110 and a second end 112. The first end110 of the tail portion 108 can be attached to a first end 104 of themain portion 102. The second end 112 of the tail portion 108 can bedirected substantially toward the second end 106 of the main portion102. The tail portion 108 can be biased toward the main portion 102. Thebias of the tail portion 108 can be configured to form an attachmentmechanism 114 by the main portion 102 in cooperation with the tailportion 108. The attachment mechanism 114 can be adapted for attachingto a remote surface.

The attachment mechanism 114 of the handheld device can have asubstantially ovular inner surface 116. The handheld device 100 caninclude a gap 118 between the second end 106 of the main portion 102 andthe second end 112 of the tail portion 108. The gap 118 between thesecond end 106 of the main portion 102 and the second end 112 of thetail portion 108 can be configured to receive a support. Referring toFIG. 4, as an example, the gap 118 between the second end 106 of themain portion 102 and the second end 112 of the tail portion 108 can beconfigured to receive an edge of a skateboard deck 120. Other examplesof things that the attachment mechanism can engage with include, but arenot limited to a pocket, a bag strap, a truck portion of a skateboard,and/or other support. The handheld device 100 can be supported by thesupport.

The tail portion 108 can be flexible. The tail portion 108 can beconfigured to provide a force resisting any opposing force. Theresistive force provided by the tail portion 108 can facilitate securingthe handheld device 100 to the support. The resistive force provided bythe tail portion 108 can facilitate securing the handheld device 100 toa user's hand, prohibiting the handheld device 100 from being dropped.The resistive force provided by the tail portion 108 can facilitatesecuring the handheld device 100 to a user's hand when the hand is openor closed.

The main portion 102 can comprise one or more of a composite material, aplastic material, a silicon material, and/or other materials adapted tosupport the internal electronics inside the handheld device 100. Thetail portion 108 can comprise from flexible material, for example,flexible plastic material, flexible silicon material, and/or otherflexible materials. In some implementations, the tail portion 108 cancomprise a spine (not shown) configured to provide resistive force tothe tail portion 108. This resistive force can be in addition to anyresistive force provided by the material of which the tail portion 108is comprised. The spine can be internal to the outer surface of the tailportion 108.

Referring to FIG. 1, the handheld device can comprise one or more inputdevices 122. The one or more input devices 122 can be configured toreceive inputs from a user of the handheld device 100.

Referring to FIG. 3, illustrates is a top-down view of an exemplaryembodiment of a handheld device 100 having one or more featuresconsistent with implementations of the current subject matter. Thehandheld device 100 can include a display 130. The display 130 can bedisposed on a surface of the handheld device 100, such that the display130 can be viewed by the user of the motorized wheel when being held bythe user. The display 130 can be an electronic visual display. Thedisplay 130 can be configured to present graphical representations ofinformation to the user, the condition of one or more components of themotorized wheel to the user, navigation information to the user,notifications to the user, or the like.

In some variations, the handheld device 100 can include one or more userperceptible indications 132 providing an indication of the status of oneor more components of the handheld device 100. In some variations, oneor more user perceptible indications 132 can include LEDs. In somevariations, the status of the one or more components can include astatus of a battery for powering the motorized wheel.

In some variations, as described with respect to FIG. 5 below, thehandheld device 100 can be in wireless electronic communication with amobile computing device. The mobile computing device can be configuredto facilitate transmission of information to the handheld device 100.The display 130 can be configured to present graphical representationsof the information received from the mobile computing device.

In some variations, the mobile computing device can be configured tofacilitate entry and/or determination of a current location or a startlocation of the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device canbe configured to facilitate entry, by a user, of a desired destination.The mobile computing device can be configured to determine a routebetween the start location and the desired destination. The mobilecomputing device can be configured to transmit route information to thehandheld device 100 for presentation as a graphical representation onthe display 130.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 500for controlling a motor 502. The handheld device 504 can comprise atransceiver 506. While transceivers are illustrated in FIG. 4,transmitters and/or receivers can be put in place of the transceiverdepending on whether information is only sent or received by therespective devices. The transceiver 506 can be a wireless transceiver.The wireless transceiver 506 can be configured to transmit and/orreceive radio frequency signals. In embodiments where the controller 508is co-located with the motor 502, the transceiver 506 in the handhelddevice 504 can be configured to transmit information to the controller508 in response to an input received by the handheld device 504 throughone or more of the input devices 510 of the handheld device. Each of theone or more input devices 510 can include one or more of a button, aslider, a wheel, a sensor, and/or other input devices. In embodimentswhere the controller 512 is hosted by the handheld device, thecontroller 512 can be configured to cause the transceiver 506 totransmit instructions to the motor 502 for controlling the motor 502 inaccordance with the inputs received through the input devices 510.

The motive device 514, such as a powered skateboard, can include atransceiver 516. The transceiver 516 can be configured to transmitand/or receive information associated with the operation of the motivedevice 514. The transceivers 506, 516 can be configured to transmitand/or receive radio-wavelength signals. For example, in someimplementations, the transceivers 506, 516 can be configured to transmitand/or receive one or more of WiFi signals, Bluetooth signals,Near-Field-Communication signals, and/or other signal formats and/orwavelengths.

The transceiver 516 of the motive device 514 can be configured totransmit information associated with the operation of the motive device514. Where the motor 502 is an electric motor powered by a battery 518,the information transmitted by the transceiver 516 can include a levelof charge of the battery 518 and/or other information associated withthe battery 518. The transceiver 506 of the handheld device 502 can beconfigured to receive information associated with the operation of themotive device 514. For example, the information received can beassociated with the charge level of the battery 518.

The handheld device 502 can include a display unit 520. The display unit520 can be configured to display information associated with theoperation of the motor 502. The display unit can be configured todisplay a charge level of the battery 518 used to provide power to theelectric motor. The display unit can be an electronic visualdisplay, atouchscreen display, a series of lights indication a charge level,and/or any device capable of conveying to a user the transmittedinformation.

The handheld device 504 and/or the motive device 514, can include atransceiver 506 and 508, respectively, configured to communicate withmobile computing devices 522. In some implementations of the presentsubject matter, the handheld device 504 and the motive device 514 cancommunicate with the mobile computing device 522 through one another.For example, the transceiver 516 of the motive device 514 cancommunicate with the transceiver 506 of the handheld device 504providing information associated with the motive device 514. Thehandheld device 504 may, in turn, communication that information withthe mobile computing device 522. As an alternative example, thetransceiver 506 of the handheld device 502 can communicate informationto the transceiver 516 of the motive device 514. The motive device 514may, in turn, cause the information to be transmitted to the mobilecomputing device 522.

Information provided by the handheld device 504 and/or the motive device514, such as a powered skateboard, to the mobile computing device 522can include, but not be limited to, battery charge information, speedinformation, mode of operation information, acceleration information,status information, error information, damage information, a mode ofoperation of the motive device, a length of time of operation of themotive device and other information associated with the motive device.The mobile computing device 522 can include one or more of a smartphone,a tablet, a computer, a laptop, a smartwatch, a vehicle, and/or otherexternal device capable of receiving the information. The mobilecomputing device 522 can facilitate presentation of informationassociated with the motive device 514 and/or handheld device 504 to auser. For example, the mobile computing devices 522 can facilitate thepresentation of the maximum speed, maximum acceleration, average speed,average acceleration, length of time in operation, distance travelled,and/or other information associated with the operation of the motivedevice 514.

The mobile computing devices 522 can be configured to receive input. Theinputs can correspond to one or more modes and/or elements of the motivedevice 514 and/or the handheld device 504. Inputs and/or entries enteredthrough n mobile computing devices 522 can select a user for the motivedevice 514. The motive device 514, handheld device 504, mobile computingdevices 522, and/or other devices, can be configured to storeinformation about different users, such as user preferences. In responseto receiving an indication that a particular user is going to use themotive device 514, the motive device 514 can be configured with thepreferred settings of that user. Inputs and/or entries entered through amobile computing devices 522 can render the motive device 514, such as apowered skateboard, inoperable. The communications between the mobilecomputing devices 522, the motive device 514, and/or the handheldcontroller 504 can be via a wireless communication medium. Such wirelesscommunication medium can include radio signals. Such radio signals caninclude Bluetooth signals and/or other short-range and/or long rangeradio signals.

The motor 502 and/or the controller 508 of the motive device 514 can beconfigured to have one or more modes. The one or more modes can beassociated with performance characteristics of the motive device 514.For example, the motive device 514 can have beginner, advanced, eco,custom and/or other modes. Different modes can include settings, such asmaximum speed, maximum acceleration, maximum distance from home, and/orother information. A user can select and/or enter a mode on the handhelddevice 504. The mode selection and/or entry can be transmitted by thetransceiver 506 to the transceiver 516 of the motive device 514. Thetransceiver 516 of the motive device can be connected directly with themotor 502 or can be connected to a controller 508 of the motive device514. The selected and/or entered mode received from the handheld device504 can cause the controller 508 and/or motor 502 to have performancecharacteristics associated with the selected and/or entered mode.

In some variations, a mobile computing device 522 can be configured tofacilitate entry and/or determination of a start location for a journey.The start location can be the current location of the mobile computingdevice 522. The mobile computing device can include a global navigationsatellite system (GNSS) signal receiver. The mobile computing device 522can be configured to determine the current location of the mobilecomputing device 522 based on the received GNSS signals.

The mobile computing device 522 can be configured to facilitate entryand/or selection of a desired destination by the user. The mobilecomputing device 522 can be configured to determine a route between thestart location and the destination. A third-party application, such asGoogle Maps, Apple Maps, or the like, can be used to determine theroute. Route information can be transmitted from the mobile computingdevice 522 to the handheld device 500. The handheld device 500 can beconfigured to facilitate presentation of a graphical representation of adirection on the display 520 of the handheld device 500. In somevariations, the graphical representation of the direction can include anarrow, a map, a portion of the route on a map, or the like.

Route information can be transmitted from the mobile computing device522 to the handheld device 500 continuously or discretely, whereportions of the route, or the whole route are transmitted to thehandheld device 500.

In some variations, the handheld device 500 can include a GNSS signalreceiver. Destination information can be provided to the handheld device500. The destination information can be transmitted to the handhelddevice 500 from a mobile computing device 522.

The handheld device 500 can be configured to determine a route betweenthe current location and the destination location. The display 520 canbe configured to provide a presentation of a graphical representation ofthe route to the user.

One or more input devices 510 can be configured to cause changes in thespeed of the motor 502. One or more input devices 510 can be configuredto cause changes in the rate of acceleration of the motor 502. Speedand/or acceleration information can be transmitted by transceiver 506 ofthe handheld device 504 to transceiver 516 of the motive device 514. Thetransceiver 516 can be configured to provide the speed and/oracceleration information to the controller 508 and/or the motor 502,depending on the configuration of the handheld device 504 and the motivedevice 514. One or more input devices 510 can include a kill switch. Thekill switch can be configured to deactivate the motor 502 in response tothe kill switch being activated. In some variations, the kill switch canbe activated by the kill switch being pressed. In other variation, thekill switch can be activated by a user releasing the kill switch.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of ahandheld device 100 having one or more features consistent withimplementations of the currency subject matter.

FIGS. 6b -6 cb illustrate exemplary embodiments of the handheld devicehaving one or more features consistent with implementations of thecurrent subject matter.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a glove-based control system 800 having oneor more features consistent with the present description. One or moresensors 802 can be disposed within a glove 804. The one or more sensors802 disposed within the glove 804 can be configured to determine amovement, or gesture, of the wearer of the glove based on adetermination of the relative locations of one or more other sensors. Acomputer processor can be configured to facilitate determination of acommand or instruction from the user based on a determination of thegestures provided by the user through movement of elements of the glove804.

The glove can include one or more components configured to communicatewith the motorized wheel of the powered skateboard through one or morecomponents of the powered skateboard. The one or more components can beconfigured to communicate through a mobile computing device 806 with themotorized wheel of the powered skateboard.

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method 900for making a skateboard deck having one or more features consistent withimplementations of the current subject matter. The method 900 for makinga deck of a powered skateboard can include one or more operations. Theorder in which the operations of method 900 are illustrated in FIG. 8and discussed herein is not intended to be limiting and can be changedwhere appropriate.

At 900, input can be received at an input device of a handheldcontroller, from a user of a motorized wheel. The input can includeinstructions associated with the operation of the motorized wheel.

At 902, operation information can be transmitted from the handheldcontroller to the motorized wheel. The operation information can beassociated with the inputs received from the user of the motorizedwheel.

At 904, information can be received through a receiver at the handheldcontroller. The information can be associated with a charge level of abattery used to power the motorized wheel.

At 906, navigation signals can be received at the controller from amobile computing device, the navigation signals including navigationinformation.

At 908, a graphical representation of the navigation information can bepresented to the user through the display.

In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as “at leastone of” or “one or more of” can occur followed by a conjunctive list ofelements or features. The term “and/or” can also occur in a list of twoor more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitlycontradicted by the context in which it used, such a phrase is intendedto mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any ofthe recited elements or features in combination with any of the otherrecited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one ofA and B;” “one or more of A and B;” and “A and/or B” are each intendedto mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similarinterpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items.For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C;” “one or more ofA, B, and C;” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, orA and B and C together.” Use of the term “based on,” above and in theclaims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that anunrecited feature or element is also permissible.

The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems,apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desiredconfiguration. The implementations set forth in the foregoingdescription do not represent all implementations consistent with thesubject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examplesconsistent with aspects related to the described subject matter.Although a few variations have been described in detail above, othermodifications or additions are possible. In particular, further featuresand/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein.For example, the implementations described above can be directed tovarious combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed featuresand/or combinations and subcombinations of several further featuresdisclosed above. In addition, the logic flows depicted in theaccompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily requirethe particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. Other implementations can be within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A controller for a motorized wheel comprising: a housing, configured to be held in the hand of an operator of a motorized wheel; an input device disposed on the housing, the input device configured to receive inputs from the user, the inputs associated with the operation of the motorized wheel; and a transmitter configured to transmit instructions from the controller to the motorized wheel, the instructions including operation information associated with the inputs received at the input device.
 2. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a main portion having a handgrip between a first end and a second end; and a tail portion having a first end attached to the first end of the main portion and a second end directed substantially toward the second end of the main portion, the tail portion being biased toward the main portion to form an attachment mechanism by the main portion in cooperation with the tail portion, the attachment mechanism for attaching to a remote surface.
 3. The controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism of the handheld device further comprises: a substantially ovular inner surface formed by the main portion and the tail portion; a gap between the second end of the main portion and the second end of the tail portion.
 4. The controller as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gap between the second end of the main portion and the second end of the tail portion is configured to receive a support such that the handheld device is supported by the support.
 5. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device can includes one or more of a button, a slider, a wheel, a sensor, a touchscreen, and a gesture sensing device.
 6. The controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a receiver configured to receive information associated with the operation of the motorized wheel.
 7. The controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the received information is associated with a charge level of a battery used to power the motorized wheel.
 8. The controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiver is a Bluetooth receiver.
 9. The controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises: a display unit configured to display information associated with the operation of the motorized wheel.
 10. The controller as claimed in claim 9, wherein the information is received from a mobile computing device, and the display unit is configured to display the information received from the mobile computing device.
 11. The controller as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information received from the mobile computing device is navigation information and the display device is configured to present navigation information to the user.
 12. The controller as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal receiver disposed within the housing, the GNSS signal receiver configured to receive geolocation signals from at least one GNSS satellite; a processor configured to perform one or more operations, including: receiving geographic destination information from a mobile computing device; determining a current location based on the received geolocation signals; determining a route based on an electronic map from the current location to the geographic destination; and, facilitating presentation, on the display device, of route information to the user associated with the determined route.
 13. A method of controlling a motorized wheel, the method comprising: receiving, at an input device of a handheld controller, from a user of a motorized wheel, instructions associated with the operation of the motorized wheel; transmitting, from the handheld controller to the motorized wheel, operation information associated with the inputs received from the user of the motorized wheel.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: receiving, through a receiver at the handheld controller, information associated with a charge level of a battery used to power the motorized wheel.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: displaying, through a display device at the handheld controller, a graphical representation of the charge level the battery.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: receiving, at a receiver at the handheld controller, navigation signals from a mobile computing device, the navigation signals including navigation information; and, displaying, through a display device at the handheld controller, a graphical representation of the navigation information.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the receiver is a Bluetooth receiver.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: receiving, at a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal receiver, geographic location signals; determining, using the geographic location signals, a current location of the handheld controller; receiving, at the handheld controller, destination information; determining, based on the current location and the destination information, a route from the current location to the destination information; and, presenting, on a display at the handheld controller, a graphical representation of the route information.
 19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the destination information is received from a mobile computing device.
 20. The method as in claim 18, wherein the route from the current location to the destination is determined by a mobile computing device. 